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Questions and Answers
What is the ultimate source of energy on Earth?
What is a fuel?
How is electricity generated?
What is a hydrocarbon?
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What are the steps to form coal?
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Which type of coal is most commonly used in the US?
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What is the primary difference in the formation process between petroleum and coal?
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What is a common component of petroleum, often used in vehicles?
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Where are most of the world's petroleum reserves located?
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What is the least harmful fossil fuel to the environment?
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What is bioconversion?
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Study Notes
Energy Sources
- The ultimate source of energy on Earth is the Sun
- A fuel is any substance from which energy can be obtained
Electricity Generation
- Electricity is generated by fuel producing steam, which exerts pressure on turbines, causing them to turn and generate electricity in a magnetic field
Society's Energy Needs
- As society advances, it requires more energy due to the increased use of machines
Hydrocarbons
- A hydrocarbon is a compound composed only of carbon and hydrogen
Fossil Fuels
- Fossil fuels are created when dead organisms are buried and not broken down by decomposers, under favorable conditions of temperature and pressure
- It takes millions of years for fossil fuels to be formed
- The three main types of fossil fuels are coal, petroleum, and natural gas
Coal
- Coal is formed in a stepwise fashion: peat, lignite, bituminous, and anthracite
- Peat is a brittle, brown plant material containing a great deal of water and a low percentage of carbon
- Lignite is found under the surface and must be mined
- Bituminous coal is a soft coal composed of up to 85% carbon, formed deep in Earth's crust, and is the most commonly used in the US
- Anthracite coal is a hard coal composed of up to 95% carbon
Petroleum
- Petroleum is formed from the remains of aquatic plants and animals buried in sediments at the bottom of the ocean
- Petroleum is retrieved from below the surface of the Earth when a well is drilled, and the pressure forces the oil upwards
- Petroleum contains various components, including gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, grease, asphalt, and nylon plastics
- Most of the world's petroleum reserves are located in Persian Gulf nations
Natural Gas
- Natural gas is commonly found in Russia
- Natural gas is the least harmful to the environment compared to other fossil fuels
Biomass Fuels
- Biomass fuels are fuels formed from the products of living organisms
- Biomass fuels are renewable
- Examples of biomass fuels include wood, garbage, and bioconverted organic materials
Environmental Concerns
- Global warming is the long-term warming of the planet's overall temperature
- Global warming is caused by the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, which influences the Earth's climate and temperature
- Negative effects of global warming include the release of CO2 into the atmosphere, leading to pollution
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Description
Test your knowledge on the ultimate source of energy, fuels, and how electricity is generated. Learn about the relationship between societal advancements and energy requirements.
